Sustainability Week 2019 Coming to SMC

Santa Monica College (SMC) students can see live music, get involved with environmental policy, and listen to guest speakers at the 2019 Sustainability Week. The three-day festival will take place in the quad from Monday, Oct. 28 to Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SMC’s Eco-Action Club, Plastic-Free SMC, Club Grow, and SMC Bike Club planned the Deforestation-themed event in coordination with SMC and Associated Students. Let Live, a music-promoting collective, also participated in organizing the event.

“Basically, we’re trying to educate people that are in the LA DIY music scene on how to be more sustainable,” said Brooke Harrington, SMC Board Student Trustee and co-founder of Let Live. “We’re educating concert-goers, as well as venues and promoters on how their venue can be better about sustainability and the environment.”

Cotton Ships, a local band made up of SMC students and alums, will perform Tuesday during activity hour.

“It’ll be really jazzy, funky, dance-y music so I’m hoping a lot of people come out," said Harrington.

A clothing swap will happen throughout Tuesday and Wednesday. Students are welcome to bring clean clothes, but aren’t required to donate to participate. All items left over will be donated to the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) clothing closet.

“Last year, the clothing swap was a huge success, besides the fact that students outside of the environmental community weren’t aware that it was happening,” said Jasmine Warren, member of Eco-Action Club and Plastic-Free SMC. “They continued to ask if we would have it again, the next day. This year we added that.”

Guest speakers, including filmmaker Julie Engleman and recycling specialist Gwen Larned, will speak in the Theater Arts Main Stage and the quad on Monday. Throughout the week, participants can also play games to win prizes and participate in do-it-yourself activities hosted by different clubs.

Sustainability Week is an opportunity for SMC students to learn about, as well as mitigate, their environmental impact.